F5's FirePass SSL VPN Product Trumps Other SSL VPN Offerings in Review by Leading IT Security Publication

Business Wire, Jan 25, 2005

SEATTLE -- Information Security calls FirePass Controller the best SSL VPN product it has reviewed to date; F5's solution praised for its ease of use, industrial strength hardware and advanced security features

F5 Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ:FFIV), the global leader in Application Traffic Management, today announced that its FirePass 4100 Controller has been named the 'Hot Pick' and singled out by Information Security Magazine. FirePass was singled out as the best Remote Access product Information Security has reviewed to date. Information Security is the enterprise security and risk managers' leading source of critical, objective information on strategic and practical security issues.

Information Security cited that the FirePass platform delivers a complete enterprise-class solution with "the broad remote access capabilities of an IPSec VPN through a Web browser interface, plus robust endpoint security features." With FirePass, enterprise users can access corporate applications via an easy to use web portal using virtually any operating system or interface. The FirePass product is exceptionally easy to set up and manage, unlike other products that require complex customization, the review indicated. "This enterprise-caliber SSL VPN was easy to set up and manage; we had the device operational in 30 minutes. The intuitive interface lets security managers define policies, set up portal pages and determine authentication mechanisms."

The Information Security Magazine review was the latest in a series of industry accolades that underscore the FirePass Controller as the market leading SSL VPN solution. Also this month, FirePass Controller was named 'Product of the Year' for 2004 in the enterprise VPN category by a premier enterprise IT resource for networking professionals, SearchNetworking.com.

"The superior rating by Information Security Magazine provides strong confirmation of F5's strategy and market execution. It's clear evidence that the FirePass product is truly hitting the bulls-eye for enterprise organizations' secure access needs," said Marty Jost, Director of Product Management at F5 Networks. "As the market for SSL VPNs continues to expand, FirePass is staying ahead of the curve as the industry's most comprehensive and advanced solution for secure, high performance access to enterprise application access."

To read the full text of the Information Security magazine review, go to http://www.f5.com/f5/news/articles/article011205b.html. For more information on the FirePass product, go to http://www.f5.com/f5products/products/FirePass/.> About FirePass Controller

The FirePass Controller is the industry's first SSL VPN solution that provides complete cross-platform support and the broadest application access, including web hosts, client-server applications, and legacy hosts. Unlike IPSec VPN products that require the installation of special client software, the FirePass solution offers a clientless SSL VPN service that leverages any standard browser interface. It also offers the only open API (Application Programming Interface) and SDK (Software Developer's Kit) that enables 3rd party application vendors to build seamless, secure remote access into their client applications.

About F5 Networks

F5 enables organizations to successfully deliver business-critical applications and gives them the greatest level of agility to stay ahead of growing business demands. As the pioneer and global leader in Application Traffic Management, F5 continues to lead the industry by driving more intelligence into the network to deliver advanced application agility. F5 products ensure the secure and optimized delivery of applications to any user -- anywhere. Through its flexible and cohesive architecture, F5 delivers unmatched value by dramatically improving the way organizations serve their employees, customers and constituents, while lowering operational costs. Over 6,000 organizations and service providers worldwide trust F5 to keep their businesses running. The company is headquartered in Seattle, Washington with offices worldwide. For more information go to www.f5.com.

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